Providence #3: RI’s Best Communities 2012

Providence

It's been an annus horribilis for Providence, with bankruptcy looming, but a bright spot for the Capital City arrives today with a new and higher ranking on GoLocalProv's Best Communities 2012 list: up to #3, from #6 in 2011.

It's both a blessing and a curse to be Rhode Island's biggest community when it comes to the rankings. On one hand, Providence's tremendous diversity of 25 neighborhoods' populations and housing makes it more affordable overall that many tonier spots; on the other, the city continues to struggle with crime and education, and wealth that is centered in a few neighborhoods.

Where does Providence rank, compared to its neighbors of all shapes and sizes? It's like dealing with mood swings. At the top of the charts, Providence reminds us that it is a city rich with culture, museums, theaters, historic sites, as well as renowned restaurants and lots (and lots) of bars. This makes the city a lot of fun, particularly for its younger inhabitants. And while Providence ruled the Affordability ranking last year, in 2012 the Median Housing Price rose a dramatic 35%, which drove its ranking down the ladder to a middling #23. Where Providence continues to struggle: Education, Economic Condition, and Safety. But if you have the money to live in the city's historic, nationally recognized neighborhoods, you've got a world of delights at your feet, and some pretty fine living.

2012 Best Communities rankings

History in a nutshell:

After his banishment from Massachusetts, Roger Williams founded Providence in 1636. It was incorporated as a city in 1832 and became the only capital of the state in 1900. In its early days, Providence was primarily a manufacturing town producing metals, machinery, textiles, jewelry and silverware. Rich in architectural and artistic significance, one can find a blend of the past and the present in Providence. Located in southeastern New England, at the head of Narragansett Bay, Providence is the center of business, finance, and government for the entire state. Adding to Providence’s influence are the 6 colleges and universities located around the city. In the 1990s, it took on the name, “Renaissance City,” as new buildings, apartments, restaurants, and recreational areas were created. Providence has become a destination for artists and architects alike due to Providence’s encouragement of the fine arts. It is a dynamic city with many facets and is a capital with limitless potential.

George Andrews, Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1912 to 1914
Israel Angell, colonel in the American Revolution
Richard Arnold, American Civil War general
William Seaman Bainbridge, American military physician, surgeon and gynecologist
Frank Wheaton, American Civil War general

Politics

Arunah Shepherdson Abell, creator of Philadelphia Public Ledger and Baltimore Sun newspapers
Philip Allen, Governor of and Senator from Rhode Island
William Henry Allen, naval officer during the War of 1812
Zachariah Allen, scientist and inventor
Jonathan Arnold, member of the Continental Congress from Rhode Island
Samuel G. Arnold, United States Senator from Rhode Island
Jabez Bowen, federalist supporter, Lt. Governor of Rhode Island
John Brown, co-founder of Brown University, U.S. Representative
John Chafee, Rhode Island Governor, Secretary of the Navy, and a United States Senator
Zechariah Chafee, an American lawyer, academic and civil libertarian
Vincent Cianci, longest-serving Mayor in Providence History (1974-1984) & (1991-2002). First Italian-American Mayor of Providence
Stephen Hopkins, nine-time governor of Rhode Island and signer of the Declaration of Independence
Elisha Jenkins, New York Secretary of State, Mayor of Albany
Pat LaMarche, Green Party vice presidential candidate in 2004 and activist
Dee Dee Myers, the first female White House Press Secretary, served under the Clinton administration
John O. Pastore, Democrat politician, first Italian-American governor (1945-1950) and Italian-American senator (1950-1976) of Rhode Island